Verizon Finalizes Purchase of Golden State Cellular

Verizon Wireless today said it has completed its purchase of Golden State Cellular. The sale includes spectrum licenses and operating assets covering about 160,000 POPs across 6,000 square miles in Yosemite National Park, as well as Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and Mariposa counties. Verizon will continue to operate Golden State Wireless as-is for several months as it integrates the two networks. It will eventually add LTE 4G service to the region. Golden State Cellular's 18,000 customers don't need to take any action for the time being. Verizon will notify them when it is ready to transition their service. Verizon and competitor AT&T are in the process of acquiring a handful of small, regional operators in order to expand coverage in rural areas, as well as gain access to more spectrum.